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(No Model.)

L. BROOKS. DEVICE FOR TIGHTENING FENCE POSTS.

No. 376,468. Patented Jan. 17,-1888.

wuew co'a Law BTOQK'S UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEVI BROOKS, OF BLACK DIAMOND, WASHINGTON TERRITORY.

DEVICE FOR TIGHTENING FENCE-POSTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 376,468, dated January 17, 1888.

7 Application filed September 2, 1887!. Serial No. 248,613. (No model.)

To all whom it 17mg concern.-

Be it known that I, LEVI BROOKS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Black Diamond, in the county of King, Washington Territory,have invented anew and useful Improvement in Devices for Tightening Fence-Posts, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention isadevice for tightening fenceposts; and it consists in certain novel features hereinafter first fully described, and then pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, which fully illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective View showing the end of a fence and my post-tightener in operative position thereagainst. Fig. 2 is a detail View showing the lever in perspective, and Fig. 3 is a detailperspective view of the casting in which the lever is fulcrumed.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A indicates the base-board of my improved device. At or near its lower end this base-board is provided with an eye or hook, B, to which a short chain or rope, O, is secured. Near the upper end of the base-board I secure the casting D, which projects therefrom at right angles and has its outer end bifurcated, as shown.

E is a lever fulcrumed in the bifurcation of the said casting. The longer arm or handle of this lever extends down to near the lower end of the baseboard and is provided with a hook, F, the purpose of which will presently appear. The end of the shorter or upper arm of the lever is provided with a band, G, one end of which forms a hook, H, and to the other end I secure one end of a rope or chain, I.

My device is intended for use in connection with that class of fence-posts which consists of two branches or parallel posts between which the rails are secured, and the object is to draw and hold the posts together while the fastening-cleat or tie-wire is being secured to the upper ends of the same.

The operation is as follows: The base-board is placed against the post, as shown in the drawings, and the rope or chain I is then passed around the posts and drawn taut and secured by engaging the hook H. The longer. arm of the lever is now pressed downward, thereby drawing the two posts together, as will be understood, and the chain 0 is made to engage the hook F, whereby the lever will be held down and the posts held together while the upper ends are being secured. After the upper ends of the posts have been secured the chains are released and the implement can be removed to the next post.

It will be seen that my device is Very simple and efficient, and it is thought its advantages will be readily appreciated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

In a device for tightening fence-posts, the combination of the base, the casting D,secured to the base near its upper end, the chain 0, secured thereto near its lower end, the lever fulcrumed in the casting D and having a hook, F, at one end adapted to be engaged by the chain 0, and the band G, secured to the opposite end of the lever,having a hook, H, formed at one of its ends and carrying a chain, I, adapted to engage the said hook H, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEVI BROOKS.

Witnesses:

THOS. R. HUGHES, A. O. MILLER. 

